Research Tuesdays - Our new right to disconnect

The global shift to remote working during the pandemic arguably led to ‘availability creep’ and unspoken expectations that employees must be accessible to their workplace at all hours. Employees emerged from lockdowns much more tied to technology. We adapted, and constant connectivity became the new normal. Now, it’s time for the law to redefine the boundaries.

To enable a more equitable work-life balance, new ‘right-to-disconnect’ laws are being introduced around the globe. France, Spain, Italy, and Germany all have laws that allow employees to step away from work communications after hours without repercussion. Soon, Australia will join the ranks.

A University of Adelaide researcher has been examining the significance of this legislative leap and untangling its implications for both employees and employers.

This talk will explain the right to disconnect from an Australian perspective, the form it is set to take in our country, and parallel approaches from around the globe. The discussion will explore practical strategies for upholding the right within the employment relationship so that all parties can effectively and confidently embrace the future of work.

Join us this July to learn how Australia’s new right to disconnect could affect you.

The presenter

Dr Gabrielle Golding is a Senior Lecturer in Law at the University of Adelaide. She frequently comments on employment matters in media, having been interviewed by the BBC, ABC, SBS, Guardian, and Australian Financial Review, and written for The Sydney Morning Herald, The Age, The Australian, and The Monthly. Her latest research is presented in her 2023 monograph, Shaping Contracts for Work (Oxford University Press).